Humidifier



May 3,1927. 1,626,666 A S. W. CRAMER AL HUMIDIFIER l Y Filed Dec. 17. 1924 3 Skaggs-Sheet 2v WITNESSES INVENTOR l 5mn/rr nf CRANE/' ma MM B. H0005 Patented May `3, `1927",`

g '.ULNI'TEDSSTATES PATENTgOFFICEf y STUARTW. GRANIER, or` oRAMERToN, AND wimian n. tionen', or` CHARLOTTE, NORTH oARoLINA,-AssIGNoRs, BY nraEoTnN-n Mnsnn assIeNNnNTs, To WM. B. Hopen COMPANY', or -onARLoTTn Noarnoanotinan ooRroRATIoN or NORTH oARoLINA; ,Y

HUMiDIFIEn.

nplication led December lfllfvM. Serial No; 756,421, i

Thisv invention relates to a humidifier and,

`more particularly, to a humidifier of the large capacity, centrifugal', type for creating and ydistributing a `mist of water and thus increasing tlie'content yof water vapor', in the Latmosphere about the humidifier. y

used, water to be absorbedv or vaporized in the atmosphere to be humidiiied is sprayed or atomizedinto a draught of air which is moving iinidirectionally, either downwardly or horizontz'xlly.'` Accordingly, the tendency of the droplets or particles ot sprayed water to tall or settle from the draught is aided by the movement ofthe draught of air. This not only lessensthe time during which the,

1 water may evaporate from the suspended or n trilling vdrops but creates an objectionable spattering or splashing ofthe water on the Hoor or other surfaces about-the" apparatus... j An object ot our present invention is to provide a simple and effective humidifying apparatus in ywhichy the tendency otthe' water particles or droplets in the mistto fall or settle out of the draught of air in which they are carried orlsuspended is resisted or opj'iosed, and inwhich arapidf-.and wide distribution oit' the mist isobtained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a humidinerin which rparticles of water ot too largeV a 'size to "be carried in the draught of air are eliminated or prevented trom being carried i'nto'the atmosphere and illustrated in the to insure .the suspension and rapid ldistribution ofthe particlesfto enable them to be completelyevaporated while in suspension. A still further object-of the invention is to provide a humidifierofthe type outlined above in which the elements for forming waterr into a mist, removing the larger particles and suspending and distributing the mist ot smaller particles, are of a compact construction and of a minimum of parts.

- llVit-h these andfother objects in view, the invention comprises the apparatus described kand set forth in the following specification and claims. A' j L The various features ot the invention` are Fig. lis an `'elevationpartly vin section of a humidifier embodying a.r preferred form of theinvention.v y f f Fig. Q is a similar elevation, partly in secaccon'ipanying drawings, in

tion, of a hnmidiiierembod simpler, formof the invention.`

3 is a view showing a modied arrangement of the fan. f

Fig. lis a side 'elevation oi the hygrostat adjusting mechanism; ln the usual type ot liumiditiers heretoforey ying a modified,y f

Fig. 5 is an elevaton of the hygrostatelenient.

. Fig. G is a fragmentary view showing the mechanism ot ythe valve adjustment.

, In our present invention, a draught of air is created in a vertical direction, either upwardly or downwardly', kand is `deflected and spread radially outwardly in a l substantially flat, spreading, stream.r A mist of Water particlessmall enough to readily noat `inthe spreading draught of air until completely evaporated, is formed in amore slowly mov-v ing, or relatively quiescent, body Otan'. which v1s then entralned into the spreading draught, and is thus spread and ditli'fused throughout the surrounding atmosphere. To form this m1st,a streainof water is drawn `from a'supply container to the surface ot broken up'into smaller particles andthrown into suspension in the adjacent, relatively quiescent air, from whichthe larger particles readily settle out. The larger particles thus settling outlorcaughtion the re taining surfacawhioh is preferably corrugated,v are received on a" surface which converges downwardly and leads into the sup-k To more effectively break up i ply container. the stream of water as it is projected from the rotating plate, theedge of theplate is preferably sharply bent towards the corrugated drop receiving surface.

AReferring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, asupply of water to be broken intor a mist and distributed throughout an atmosphere to be humldltied is containedin a supplyv container l() having upfr wardly and outwardly flaring side walls l2.

` A stream ot water is drawn by centrifugal raction. upwardlyifi-om'L the central portion of the container l0 byy means otra rotating inverted, rustro-conical member 14 depending `from a horizontal, Arotating plate or disc y lill i6 and dipping,- into the body ol water in the container 1G. las the plate i6 is rapidly rotated, Aa sheet ot water is drawn upwardly over its inner and outer surfaces as indicated by the brel-:en line arrows, to the under sur- :tace ot the plate 1G and is then thrown outwardly along the under surface ot' the plate, openings 1S being provided in the upper edge or base oit the member' ll, when desired, to permit the water on the inner surface or" the member to reach the under .surtace et the plate. is the outwardly moving sheet ot' water reaches vthe outer portion ol the plate lo, it is detiected sharply downwardly by a downwardly `turned rim or edge portion 20 and throwne-gainst a corrugated surface 22 on the inner surface yoi"Y the outwardly Vflaring walls 12 ot the container l0. is the water strikes the downwardly turnen rim or edge portion 2O and is dei'lected .it is spread thinly and unitormly as it is thrown oli", and it is u'hereby broken up into small particles and projected against the corrugated surface las a result o'l' this cei'itiiingg'al breaking up ot the sheet ot water, a mist et tine particles or droplets vis -formed lin the atmosphere about or above the corrugated surface 22. As this atmosphere is relatively quiescent. any larger particles thrown thereinto, which would not remain in suspension su'liiciently long,l to entirely evaporate, readily settle out ot the mist onto the surface l2 and tlow bach into the container 10.

The plate i6 and member le Amay be supported and rotated in any suitable manner. As shown in llipg. l, the plate 16 is supported on the upper end ot a shaft 2l, which extends trom a driving motor 26, placed -beneath the container l0 upwardly through an encircling; wall Q8 in the container and provided at its upper end with a collar 30 having` a supporting flange and a holding washer 3l tor mounting` the plate there on. The motor '26 may be supported by means ot a bracket 36 projecting 'from a support-ing post'- 38 or by other suitable means.

in the modi lication shown in Figi'. Q, the driving motor 26 is mountedabove the yplate itl by means ot' a supporting spider 39 having radially and downwardly extendingn arms LO secured to the inner upper surface of the walls l2, and the. shaft 24e extends downwardly from the motor to a position to support the plate 1G. In this 'torni the yapparatus is illustrated as supported by means ot hangers l2 depending from a ceiling 44. and the motor may be further guided and supported by means' ot horizontal bars 46 extending` between the hangers 42. In each form of the invention, the motor may be driven by a suitable electric current supplied through marins 4.8.

The motor 26 also serves in each form Fig. l, the tan 50 is mounted beneath the motor 2G and directs a draught ot air up wai-diy uaainst the under surface ot the flaring w lil ot the container l0. The draught et air is then deflected by the -walls l2 and :spi-'mid outwardly in a substantially llat sheet leaving the edges .52 ot the walls in a spreading, slightly upward .moving sheet, as indicated by the arrows.

The movement ot this sli-cet ot air enand creates a yslight suction. Under the nllueuce ot this suctionr` a slowly moving current ol air is drawn through a number ot inlet openings 5l in the upper' portion of a cone shaped cap or cover member 56 the lower. outer edge ot which reaches downwardly tooverlie the space 23 and .form with the vupper inner surface ot the walls l2 an annular outlet 58 `through which .the air is drawn. the .mist lparticles inthe space Q3 and .carries them into the draught 4ot air at the outer eduje et the walls, n'. hout creating; suiiicient ve f t to carry the hea vier drops of water. The capacity olf the humidilier in this torni ot embodiment may be .controlled by controllingy the inlet oit air fthrough the .inlet openings by means ot a suitable damper GO. The cap 5G is supported from the upper edges ot' the walls l2 l1=y means ot posts 62 which permit the cap to be raised or lowered to control the area ot the annular outletrz'y. v

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the 'lan 50 .may be advantageously secured to the shut't 2l, in a position substantially midway between the driving' motor 26 and .the water container l0. By so placing the tan 50 above the motor, an element ot' sa'lety is obtained by minimiziiigthe danger lot vany one being harmed by the tan when in operation. ln the 'torni otl embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the tan 50 .is Amounted above the motor Q6 and directs a draught of air dovvuivardly toward-s the top of the plate 16.. which is exposed vto the draught. ml draught is l 11G deiiected and spread betere reachinjthe suri'face ot the plate i6 by a body oit dead, or quiet. air pocket/ed above and on the upper suri'ace ot the plate lll, the main course -fot the air beingas indicated by the tull arrows. il portion et the airn however, di-tl'uses into and slowly entraine tue atmosphere Q3 inimedately above the edge ot the plate 16 and serves to slowly move this atmosphere into trains air troni above the edge ot the wall n l i This slow current .of air takes up Utl lul)

i .the disc and thus avoid the lifting or carry?. .ing actionthat might be given'to the inist V be distributed throughoutfthe "surrounding atmosphere;` The arms Ll ofthe spider 30 are made Wide.; or flat in a. vertical direction so' as to oppose the circulating oi' swirling motion that might be given to the air above thereby.

' Watermay be supplied to the container 10 in any suit-able manner. yIn the forms shown vin Lthe drawings, a supply of 7after is suppliedrthrough a pipe Gal provided with a hand operated by-,pass valve 90 and a circulation of the Water and a constant level in the container are obtainedr by permitting theexcess of Water notformed into a mist by theplate L16 to overflow through an overflow pipe 66. In the compartment "70 of the -containeix` a float valve structure is'y providedconsisting of` afloat F from which projects a rod 91 connected by a suitvable joint 92 to' a rod 93. which passes througl'i a flexible yjoint Sil inthe Wall 12.

The rod 9 3 is connected to a valve 9S by rods 05 and 96 connected together' by auniversal joint A97. The tloat'will thus rise and lfall With the water in the compartment I7.() to close andopen the valve 9S vat 'a predeten` `mined Water level. A valved bypass pipe 68 may be yprovided between the lower part of the container 10 `and theovertlow pipe 66 for the purpose of draining the container.r The Water supplied throughy the pipe 6ft is received in any outer annular compartment 70 formed in the container10 by means of a circular wall k'i' 2 and Y, from this 'compart-y ment is admitted through an' opening Tl inl the Wall controlled by means of a plug valve 7 6 to airinner compartment 8 intofuhicli the lower endofvthe member Vlll dipsgThe position of the plugvalve `76 relative to the opening 74 maybe controlled to regulatek the flow vof water into the compartment 78 by means'of a lever `80 on the lower end of which the plugl valve 7 6 4is mounted and which is inturn controlled by means of an operating rod S2 which isnmoved either maiiually, by the constructionshown in. FiggG,

or automatically by means of a hygrostatto `rwhich `it is suitably connected, as by theconi struction shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 6, tlieamanual adjust- [ment is obtained by mounting the handle on .a supporting part 101`secure'd to the side I wall 12, the part F101 .beingprovided With a scaler` 102, the handle 4being provided with a pointer 103. Depending from the pivot 10ft ot the 'handle isa rod 105 providedwvitli an elongated slot 106, which engages a projecting portion 107 extending fron'i the rod By means Aof this construction, when they rhandle 100 is turned, the pointer'runs over the scale kk102y and the rod ,782 canthus Ibe drawn backend yforth andthe vvalve 76 opened tofany tent. f y

Referring to Figs. 4l and 5 the automatic .predetermined and vset excontrol is governed by a hygrostat H which consists preferably of afbandr of fibers 200, such as silk, 'cotton or hair, ywhich are secured; tov bridges 201 and 202. The bridge 201 is p'ivotally secured to the bracket `2.20, which r`is supported upon the hanger 42.

-thunib screw 203v runs over a scale 205 on the standing part 20G. rflieie is also secured 'to the'hanger 42 a projection 207 upon which is pivoted at 208 abell crank lever 209, having a weightk 210 secured at the upper free l end. which Weight ybears with some tension againstjtheffibers 200 of the hygrostat rH. The shorterarm211 ofthe bell crank lever' 200 is pivoted to a1rod'212 which passes through theI Walll 12 M1213 and 1s secured to ivoted at) an arm of a bcllcrank lever *211 A 215 upon ayprojection 216 Aexten ing from the underside of tlie'u'all 12, the lower arm 217 of this bell crank lover being pivotedto the operating yrod S2 which controls the i'ilveinents ofthe valve 76.`r 3 I i i" As the moisture in the air surrounding th hygrostatincreases,.the fibers of the element when of rcotton will shorten, thus rais-y rod 82 .outu'ardly to close the valve 76y as clearly-shown in Fig. 2. lYhen the moisture I `decreases the valve 76 is similarlyopened.

if'alve would be arranged so thatfthe changes in vhumidity of the surrounding airfvvill vcause' the valveb'fto befactuated inthe proper directions.`

kThe adjustment of the automatic control by means' of the construction above described isei'fected by turning thehead ofthe screuTV vin one direction or the other sothat they initial setting'of the valve 7 6 lcan be secured.

Byv providing tivo adjacent Vlrcommuni-v cating ytanks of Wateig'into onefof which the supplyV of water initially Hows, and from ythe other of which the qWater is drawn to form a' mist,ithey operator is enabled by the' ing the rod 212 which in turn draws the l0()y Vlio valve constructionthus described to provide sufficient ivatcij to meet the necessities of the case. lhat .is to say` Lwhen the surrounding air islladen with moisture itis obvious that the suppl'y'o'lf ivater for forming` the` mist need only be at its minimum Whereas when erninpy the vflow of water from one tankto the other. Vithout such a construction, the supply tank inust be Vkept always at its maX- Ainuun which would frequently supply inore water than is needed to effectively forni the required inist.

'ilhrougg'h the above invention, therefore, water is drawn upwardly by the nieinber Ll and thrown centri'iugally outwardly against the .cm'rugrated surface 22 and broken up into .a line inist which is entrained by and carried in suspension outwardly by the draft created by the propeller l50 into the sur- .rcuindingr atmosphere to evaporate, and thus liuinidifyingr the said atmosphere. The larger particles of water falling onto the wall run bach into the container l0, the forni ot' the container providing a very sini- ,p.lc compact vapparatus for this purpose.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of our invention, it is intended that allr inatter contained in the above description or shown in the accon'ipanying .drawings be interpreted illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having! described our invention, what we clainiand desire to secure by Letters lPatent is:

l. Apparatus lof the type described which cfnnprises, a liquid container having an out wardly flaring' side wall, ineans for creating a h' st of air against the outer surface ot said con*'ainer and -deflectingit outwardly tyast the `-edge of said container, and ineans tor pi'ojectingi` liquid from said container centrifugally out ardly against the inner surface .of said outwardly :flaring: wall and mit Y`et the path of said blast of air, the wall of said container preventing` passage of any of said blast of air into contact with said liquid within said container.

L. Apparatus of the type described which ctnnprises, a vliquid container having` an outwardly flaringl side wall` means for creating a blast of air against the outer surface of said container and deflectingg` it outwardly lpast the edge of said-container, a corrugated inner surit'ace on `the wall of said container, and means 'for projecting liquid froin said `container centrifugally outwardly against .said corrugated surface and out of the path of said blast .of air, the wall ofsaid container rentingl` pesage of any of said blast of air into contact with said liquid wit-hin said vctnitainer.

13. Apparatus of the type described which conqJriseS,` a liquid container having;` side vwalls {lari-ne` outwardly at its upper end and having ycorrugations on its inner surface, a rotate" 1'e plate having an edge bent-*towards said corrugated surface, rotatable ineans for ,drawing liquid troni said container to said pla-te, and nieans for directing` a current of .air lradially outwardly in a sheet adjacent the edge of said container.

insane@ Al. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a liquid container having a side wall flaring out ardly at its upper end and having corrugations on its inner surface, a rotatable plate having an edge bent ltowards said corrugated surface, and an inverted, frustro-conieal ineinber inounted 'troni the under side of said plate and depending into said container.

5. Apparatus ot the type described which comprises, a liquid container liz-wing` a side wall ilariugr out\\ardly at its upi'ierend, lrotatable for drawing liquid upwardly froin said container and throwing it outwardly against the inner surface of said 'flaring wall, and a fan for directing a blast of air upwardly against the under surface of said flaring; wall.

G. Apparatus of the type described which compri.v xs, a liquid container having a side wall {iai-ing outwardly at its upper end, a horizontal, rotatin; plate having an edge portion bent towards the inner surface of said liarinp; wall, means for supplying liquid to the n'face of said plate, and means for directing a blast of air against the lower, outer, surface of said flaring wall.

T. Apparatus of the type described which coniprist a liquid container having a side wall flaring outwardly at its upper end and having' corriurations on its inner surface, a rotatable plate haring; an edge bent towards said corrugated surface, an inverted frustreconical inernher niounted from the under side of said plate and depending into said container, and a fan mounted beneath said container to direct a blast of air upwardly against the lower outer surt'ace of said filar- .ing wall.

8. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a liquid container havinga side wall Haring` outwardly at its upper end and having corrugations on its inner surface, a motor inounted beneath said container and havingl a shaft extending,l upwardly there through, a flat horizontal plate having an edge sharply bent towards said corrugated surface mounted on the upper end of said shalt, and a fan inounted on and driven by sa id motor.

9. Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a liquid container having` a side wall flaring outwardly at its upper end and having corrugations on its inner surface, a inotor mounted beneath said container and havinga shaft projecting` upwardly therethrough, a horizontal plate mounted on the upper end ot said shaft and havingl an edge bent sharply towards said corrugated surface, an inverted frustro-conical inc-n'iber niounted on said plate and provided with holes at its base below and adjacent to said plate, and a fan mounted on said inotor to direct a draught of air upwardly against the outer surface of said flaring wall.

, v.10. vApparatus of the type described which comprises, a" liquid container 'having a side wall flaringoutwardly atits upper end and having corrugations on itsinner surface, a

motor'mounted.beneath said container andk having a shaft projecting upwardly' there` through, a horizontal plate mounted on the upper end of said shaft and having yan edge `surface of said fiaring wall.

bent sharply rtowards-said. corrugated sur.- face, an inverted frustrosconical member mounted on said plate, encircling said shaft and depending yinto said. container, and a fan mounted on saidv motor to vdirect a] wall Haring outwardly at itsupper end, an

annular partition wall inp'said container dividing said container into an rinner compartment and an outer compartment, ahorizonf tally vrotating plate having an edge portion bent toward the inner portion of said flaring wall, means for drawing water from saidv linner compartmentto the surface of said kplate `whereby said water is thrown against said fia-ring wall and runs back tos'aid outer compartment, means for directing a blast of air yagainst the lower outer surfaceof said flaring wall, means for withdrawing water .from said outer compartment, means for maintaining the level of water in'said f outer compartment substantially constant, a valve for regulating the flow of water from said outer compartment to said inner compartment, and automatic means for con` trolling the position of said valve.

l2.y Apparatus of the type described which comprises, a container having an upwardly vand outwardly flaring sidewall, a motor beneath said container, a fan between'said containerl and said motor to create adraught upwardly alongthe `side wall of said container, and means for drawing water` .from the lower part of said container and centrifugall'y throwing it yagainst the inner surface of said. flaring side kwall.'

e STUART w. CR'AMER.y

WILLIAM B. Honoris, 

